Plant of the Month: Spring Plants in City of Raleigh Parks

This small tree has leaves that resemble a black cherry tree, but are located in an opposite arrangement on the branch (cherry leaves are alternate). Fragrant white flowers appear in a compound umbel at the branch tips. The fruits are edible and mature in early fall. This photo was taken at Anderson Point Park, along the eastern sewer easement in March of 2012. You can find this tree in low woods and moist rich soils throughout the Piedmont.

This beautiful small tree is found primarily in the NC Coastal Plain in rich woods. This photo was taken at Chavis Park, in the Rocky branch stream easement, a tributary of Walnut Creek. This species was likely planted during a stream restoration project by the NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program and the City of Raleigh. The spring blooming red buckeye attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators such as bees.

This deciduous azalea is native to the eastern United States and can be found scattered through wooded habitats in North Carolina. The flowers are large and showy with color varying white to light or dark pink. Look for this spring blooming shrub along wooded stream banks. This photo was taken in early spring at Anderson Point Park along the banks of the Neuse River.

The flowers of this interesting plant are located on a spike that hides under a leaf bract (the “pulpit”). The leaves grow in groups of three at the top of a long stem produced from a corm (similar to a bulb or tuber). The plant is highly variable, sometimes with white, brownish, or purplish stripes. It flowers in spring and is pollinated by flies. Red clusters of fruit appear in late summer before the plant goes dormant for the winter. This spring woodland flower can be found in rich woods throughout North Carolina.

This early spring bloomer has lovely small showy flowers, a basal rosette of lobed leaves, and very hairy stems. It grows between 4 and 12 inches high and is often found growing on logs, rocks, or cliffs. This photo was taken in early spring at Anderson Point Park along the banks of the Neuse River.

Found in moist habitats throughout North Carolina, this fern is an Obligate wetland plant, meaning it is found 99% of the time in wetlands. The ferns have a unique appearance and are easily identifiable in Raleigh parks, though they are not generally common. The fronds are cut twice into large rounded leaflets.